SEARCCT, in collaboration with the Emergency Department of Hospital Selayang and Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan, Pahang, successfully organised the “Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Terrorism Awareness and Medical Emergency Consequence Management Workshop” at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan from 1 to 3 October 2019.
This was the sixth edition of the workshop co-hosted by SEARCCT and Hospital Selayang after the success of the earlier editions at The Duchess of Kent Hospital, Sandakan, Sabah. This workshop was attended by 90 participants consisting of medical practitioners of hospitals and clinics from the Eastern Peninsular region.
With the aim of creating awareness among medical practitioners on the use of CBRNE elements as weapons and to prepare them in responding to such casualties, this workshop was steered by SEARCCT’s established local trainers from the Royal Malaysia Police, Ministry of Health, Malaysia Armed Forces, Chemistry Department, Fire and Rescue Department and Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB).
A variety of topics on the subject of CBRNE was discussed ranging from the basics, modes of dispersal and managing post-attack situations to emergency decontamination. This gave participants an insight to the significance of understanding the roles of other agencies, in the event of CBRNE incidents. Through selected hands-on sessions, the participants were given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with detection equipment for CBRNE agents, which added value to the theory they learnt through the lectures.
Through demonstration exercises, participants were also briefed on coordination, security procedures, command control and communication in handling mass casualties in the event of CBRNE incidents, thus emphasising the need for an all-inclusive approach when it comes to response mechanisms.